Seven of notorious Panna Bahini held in Kushtia

Those arrested are Mazdar, Alam, Mati, Rashid, Hannan, Babu and Kalo belonging to a faction of outlawed Jashod Gono Bahini (JGB) loyal to Panna, a gang leader.

But they could not arrest another gang leader --Lalchad --who allegedly belonging to ruling BNP.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The rival gangs, locally known as Panna Bahini and Lalchad Bahini, unleashed a reign of terror in several areas of Maricha and Philipnagar union in Daulatpur upazila, police said.

These rival gangs on Thursday were engaged in a gun battle over capture of Habirchar and Plashir shoals, leaving two persons including BNP activist Jamrul dead.

After the gunfight, local people agitated protesting alleged police inaction in nabbing the miscreants.

Sources inn the area claimed that police are not arresting any of the gang members of Lalchad Bahini as they are sheltered by local a BNP lawmaker.

Police said they have got information about arms from the arrested persons. Police may start drive at night with the criminals to recover their hidden firearms.